I 91 



LIBRARY- OF CONGRESS. 

Shelf.. 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



THE 



Sufferer's Manual 



A BOOK OF ADVICE AND INSTRUCT I OX 
FOR YOUNG MEN, AND 



HOME GUIDE TO HEALTH AND HAPPINESS 



Compiled from the highest medical authorities 



BY- 



WALTER PRESTON 



T. II. ELDRED, ' \ *- y 



Assisted by several fellow medical students, desirous of extending 
truthful information upon a vital subject. 



nil 



CHICAGO: 

1879. 






4°s 



Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1879, by 

Walter Preston and W. H. Eldred, 
In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



TO THE READER. 

We are aware that books without number have been 
written upon the subject treated in this little work, but 
most of them are, unfortunately, mere advertisements, 
either of a physician's pretended skill, or of some "spe- 
cific," or other patent nostrum, and as their authors 
expect to gain more from the sale of their medicines 
or in practicing the doctor's profession than in the sim- 
ple disposal of their books, it is clearly comprehended 
that their publications are not conscientiously written, 
but are utterly unreliable, being filled with gross misrep- 
resentations and exaggerations, while the number who 
have written upon the subject of seminal emissions with 
the sole thought of extending important medical infor- 
mation, and without expecting to gain further than the 
sale of their books, is lamentably small. 

Viewing these facts, we offer no apology for present- 
ing our little book to the young men of our country, 
sincerely trusting that it will accomplish its grand mis- 
sion of extending truthful information ; be successful in 
correcting the bad impressions made by empirics, and 
prove one of Truth's principal instrumentalities in dis- 
pelling the gross ignorance which almost universally 
prevails upon this vital subject; and when these dark 
clouds of ignorance and credulity have been dispelled 
by the glorious rays of Truth, the charlatans will be ef- 
fectually prevented from preying upon this lack of 
knowledge on the part of the great masses of the people. 

3 



4 THE SUFFERER'S MANUAL. 

The vital consequence which this subject of Night 
Losses has to the human race, particularly young men, 
is so great that every effort should be made by physi- 
cians and medical writers to give wide diffusion of infor- 
mation of the character contained in this volume. 

This book was written by several medical students, 
and is simply a careful compilation of the most eminent 
and honorable medical authorities obtained through cor- 
respondence, and having personal interviews with phy- 
sicians of recognized standing, and from the works of 
the best authors who have touched upon this subject in 
their writings, and having collected a vast amount of 
information, I — W. Preston, appointed the compiler — 
have condensed it into this small, easily carried, and 
easily remembered form. 

I say nothing about the grave consequences resulting 
from the indulgence of secret vice, taking it for granted 
that it has been discontinued and that the reader is now 
seeking relief from its blighting effects. Of course if 
the habit is not stopped it must be done so at once, for 
it is absurd to think of a cure when the great cause re- 
mains unchecked. 

Sufferers will find in this unpretending little book 
just what they want, that is the aire; directions for stop- 
ping the exhausting drains upon the system, and restor- 
ing the lost health and vitality. It is in every sense of 
the word The Sufferer's Manual, giving the infor- 
mation that every honorable physician would give, only 
more extended and in detail, and we know that every 
one obtaining it will be a thousand times benefitted there- 
by, and will never regret that they procured it.' 

Among the works from which we derived valuable 
aid, I will mention Dr. W. W. Hall's numerous books, 
also Prof. O. S. Fowler, Dr. J. H. Kellogg, Dr. Beach, 



TO THE READER. 5 

Dr. Graham, Dr. Acton, and others who have written 
works giving more or less information upon these sub- 
jects. 

In conclusion, I wish to say, that we do not by any 
means pretend to give everything necessary to effect a 
cure, for that is absolutely impossible, for every person 
requires different treatment, according to seriousness of 
his case, and we advise every sufferer to consult a good, 
honorable family physician, at home, one who would 
take an interest in the case ; state to him candidly the 
trouble, and should he deem it advisable to give medi- 
cines, use them as he directs, never forgetting, however, 
to follow the hygienic rules of this book ; read and re- 
read it, using it as a powerful auxilliary to the physician's 
advice and treatment, and you can confidently rely that 
a cure will surely and safely follow. Sufferers should, 
however, carefully avoid consulting advertising doctors, 
or purchasing advertised nostrums. 




WHY I WROTE THIS BOOK. 

The fearful extent to which the quack medi- 
cine business has of late years been carried, the 
immense sums of money which these despicable 
scoundrels have wrung from the scanty stores 
of thousands of deluded victims, especially the 
young and inexperienced, by advertising under 
such taking titles as " Victims of Youthful 
Imprudence," " Manhood Restored," Medicine 
Companies or " Associations," others styling 
themselves " Reverends," Indian doctors, and 
other names; together with the tremendous 
swindles which advertising doctors with their 
"marriage guides," "medical advisers," etc., have 
perpetrated, duping thousands of persons, par- 
ticularly young men, who may have been in- 
discrete in former years, out of millions of dollars 
by professing to cure them of certain disorders, 
which they falsely represent as being the ruin- 
ous effects of self-abuse, misrepresenting their 
condition as one most deplorable and disgrace- 
ful, and utterly disqualified for honorable mar- 
riage. 

These and other outrageous falsehoods, and, 

6 



WHY I WROTE THIS BOOK. 



more than all, the serious evils they inflict by 
giving or selling vile and poisonous nostrums, 
which often proves the foundation of ills that a 
lifetime fails to eradicate, have induced me to 
undertake, by the means of this little book, to 
counteract their baneful influence, expose their 
contemptible lies and frauds to the broad sun- 
light of truth, rescue and rectify the minds of 
their deluded victims, and point out the only 
sure and safe mode of permanently curing these 
disorders. 

In this grand, noble and philanthropic work, 
I feel confident of the active support, both 
morally and financially, of every true, noble 
and generous young man in the land. 




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ADVERTISING QUACKS. 

There are a vast number of unscrupulous, 
designing persons, who advertise under attrac- 
tive names, professing to cure all the disorders 
occasioned by youthful indiscretion, or the ex- 
cesses of maturer years. We may divide them 
into two classes, first the specialist, this class 
issues books already mentioned, such as " Mar- 
riage Guides," "Science of Life," "Physiology," 
and other suggestive names, promising revela- 
tions upon subjects which every one, to a certain 
extent, and the young particularly, have an in- 
tense desire to investigate, and upon which they 
seek all possible information, if the information 
given was true, it would be useful and beneficial, 
but alas, it is just the reverse, and is productive 
of an immense amount of harm, as will be 
shortly shown. 

The second class of charlatans comprise the 
large number who do not pretend to practice 
medicine, but sell some drug or appliance, rep- 
resenting it to be a great "discovery," "specific," 
"regenerator," "great remedy discovered by a 

8 



ADVERTISING QUACKS. 



missionary in South America," and the applian- 
ces are styled "Electric Belts," etc., all of them 
are represented as being infallible remedies, per- 
forming the most wonderful cures, almost rais- 
ing the dead from their graves. When a person 
consults one of the self-styled medical gents, he 
receives a pamphlet which is a veritable "cham- 
ber of horrors" of his situation, portraying his 
condition as one of the most imminent peril, and 
he must " flee for his life " at once, or insanity, 
consumption, and a premature grave would in 
a short time overtake him. The publication 
generally closes with an advertisment of their 
own skill, or of some "great boon" which they 
have to sell at an exorbitant price, guaranteed 
to work miracles in cures. 

All of these publications open with expres- 
sions of a benevolent regard for the happiness 
and best interests of humanity, and of the young 
in particular, then with a show of great learn- 
ing, strengthened by quotations from the most 
eminent authorities and frequent allusions to 
Scripture, their readers' minds are gradually 
prepared for receiving the most outrageous false- 
hoods — actual lies, which, however, the young 
and inexperienced minds cannot easily detect, 
and which they accept as gospel truth, they are 
led along by one plausible thing to another, 
supported by a few facts, the mind is gradually 



IO THE SUFFERERS MANUAL. 

misled, and the way is prepared for making their 
readers believe their subsequent false and extrav- 
agant statements. The reader becomes alarmed 
at the horrible picture unfolded to his view, his 
fears are aroused to an intense point, and he 
falls an easy prey to robbery; in fact the whole 
intent of these publications is first to mislead, 
then to alarm, and then to fleece. Every suffer- 
er should avoid them as one would a pestilence. 

All of these things being of a private nature, 
there is a natural delicacy in comparing ideas 
even with the nearest friends, the authors of the 
above mentioned books and pamphlets take 
advantage of this weakness of human nature, 
and feel safe in their strongholds of infamy and 
falsehood. 

We are determined to break up this nefarious 
work, stop as far as we can their abominably 
wicked business, to save at least a few who 
would otherwise fall victims to their deceptive 
wiles, plucking them as brands from the burn- 
ing, and send them on their way through life 
rejoicing. 

Since the issue of the first edition of this book, 
I have reeeived so many kind and encouraging 
letters from my friends throughout the country, 
thankful of having at last found the truth, and 
assuring me of their aid, that I feel under deep 
obligations to them for their encouragement and 



ADVERTISING QUACKS. 



II 



gifts, and here acknowledge them with many 
thanks. I assure all my readers and friends that 
the benedictions of my conscience is a great 
daily reward for the work I have entered into. 




QUACK'S MODE OF PRO- 
CEDURE. 

Let us now consider the manner and the va- 
rious ways, resorted to by the quacks, whereby 
they obtain such an ascendancy over the minds 
of their readers. 

This is done by appealing to some slight 
physical appearance, that such and such a thing- 
looks so and so, or actually is so and so, for in- 
stance, a whitish cloud or deposits in the urine, 
left testicle hanging lower than the right, loss 
of memory, ringing in the ears, heavy feelings, 
and hundreds of other symptoms are named, 
but principally night losses, are facts which 
they appeal to as proofs of an unnatural and a 
diseased condition. The reader finds these phys- 
ical appearances true, things which he cannot 
help but believe, his confidence is gained, and 
he receives the subsequent assertions, which are 
downright falsehoods, as truth, and here he is 
ensnared, led astray, terrified, and becomes an 
easy prey to imposture. 

This is the general course pursued by all the 
"cured victim's" free prescription humbugs, and 

12 



quack's mode of procedure. 13 

the vast hordes of other quacks infesting our fair 
land, and we entreat young men, as you value 
your wealth and your life, to keep away from 
these pestilential scoundrels and their infamous 
publications. 

As before stated, these pamphlets and books 
influence the susceptible minds of their readers 
to a degree of excitement, dread and remorse, 
that is simply terrible. Prominent physicians 
have told me that they are constantly in receipt 
of letters from youth in the country, which 
clearly show that they are on the very verge of 
insanity over their supposable terrible condition, 
many of them not hesitating to say they would 
rather be dead than remain in their present con- 
dition any longer. Very often it requires con- 
siderable time and patience to explain to them 
and show them that their condition is one com- 
mon to all young men, not necessarily caused by 
self-abuse, but by a perverted state of the mind. 
In fact, a more menial than a physical trouble, 
and one which is easily and speedily rectified by 
simple, mild treatment, without using dangerous 
and expensive drugs which undermine the con- 
stitution, and in the end increases the complaint. 
Occasionally, however, neither their most posi- 
tive letters, or references to standard books, or 
even personal expostulations with the blinded 
victim are of any avail in dispossessing them of 



14 THE SUFFERER'S MANUAL. 

their absurd opinions, or relieve them of their 
sadness and melancholy, so firmly fixed in their 
minds is the impression that their case is hopeless^ 

It becomes the imperative duty of parents to 
explain to these misguided youths the true char- 
acter of these disorders; to exclude from their 
sons' hands every impure publication, and place 
therein only those which give the positive med- 
ical truth in regard to these diseases, entirely 
free from quackery, and which will promote 
and elevate the human soul, and all that is good, 
pure and holy in the youth's character. 

The vile publications give many symptoms to 
beguile the unwary, such as down-cast looks, an 
averted eye, not looking people in the face, etc., 
saying they are certain proofs of the practice of 
secret vice or of nocturnal emissions, as if to be 
brazen faced, and stare people out of counte- 
nance, was conclusive evidence of purity and 
virtue! They' also have considerable to say 
about "the unableness to concentrate the mind," 
u pimples on the face," " gloomy forebodings," 
" easily frightened," etc., representing them all 
as being the dire effects of " Onanism." 

It is easy to see how these misrepresentations 
disturb the easily influenced minds of youth, and 
how willingly they would part with every cent 
they could get to rid themselves of what they 
consider a dangerous affliction, and one leading 
to the most fatal results. 



quack's mode of procedure. 15 

This state of mind is exactly what the writers 
of the books desire of their readers — a willing- 
ness to part with any sum of money they could 
raise to be cured of something which they have 
been led to believe is an awful disease, but which, 
in fact, is no disease, but simply an evidence of 
a healthful vigor of the parts — an overflow of 
vitality, common to every healthy young man. 
Besides, such books and circulars corrupt the 
minds of many young men, who, after reading 
them engage in sensual pleasures, running the 
risk of contracting diseases which are a thous- 
and times more terrible than the simple disorder 
sought to be cured thereby. 

But in most cases the perusal of these publi- 
cations throws the minds of their readers into a 
really pitiable condition, they imagine them- 
selves as possessed with consumption, nearing 
insanity, and doomed to an early grave. They 
think they are afflicted with a hundred different 
diseases and their constantly rebuking con- 
science, groundless fears, wearing apprehensions 
and wasting remorse make life a misery too 
heavy to be borne, and, alas! too often, rest is 
found in the suicide's grave. 

Sad, indeed, are these reflections, to think that 
men, for a little worldly gain, will so debase 
themselves as to cause such an amount of woe 
and anguish to their fellow men; they may es- 



l6 THE SUFFERER'S MANUAL. 

cape the laws and penalties of this life, but they 
will certainly have their punishment hereafter. 

NIGHT LOSSES.— There is probably 
nothing in the catalogue of human ills that has 
•been productive of more mental distress and de- 
spondency, more secret forebodings, sleepless 
nights and anguish of mind, than these night 
losses, also called nocturnal emissions, seminal 
weakness, spermatorrhea, and other names. 

They are harmless, to a certain degree, in 
themselves, yet the fear and anxiety they excite 
in the minds of young men, further increased 
by the reading of the infamous medical books 
until, in many cases, the intellect actually gives 
way under the high mental tension. This 
constant morbid dwelling upon the subject; this 
continued strain upon the nervous system is one 
of the most prolific causes of the insanities, shat- 
tered intellects and nervous prostrations which 
abound upon all sides of us. And when we re- 
flect that these calamities could surely be averted 
by a little truthful information upon this subject, 
that a small amount of good, wholesome advice 
would have proved the greatest blessing that 
could be given them, we doubly feel the necessity 
of extending this knowledge to every part of our 
glorious land. 

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.— In the 



THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 17 

treatment of seminal emissions, we will first 
take into consideration the brain and nervous 
system, their close relation, and influence upon 
the losses. 

The nervous system comprises the brain and 
spinal cord and their ramifications and connec- 
tions. The brain is composed of a wonderful 
nervous substance which fills the skull, passes 
down the spinal canal, giving out, at close inter- 
vals, on each side of it, branches, which penetrate 
into the muscles and organs of the body. The 
branches are subdivided into many other branch- 
es, and they again into an infinite number of 
capillaries or terminations which envelope every 
muscle, organ and function of the system; they 
are especially numerous in the skin and around 
the sexual organs. In the skin over 3,000 are 
found to the square inch, while around the sex- 
ual organs they ramify in countless numbers. 

The brain is the seat, head-center, governor 
and controller of this wonderful nervous system, 
and through it every function, muscle and organ 
in the body, consequently, anything affecting 
the nerves affects the brain, and through it all 
portions of the body, and, on the other hand, 
when the brain is affected, the nerves also will 
be, and through them all portions of the body ; 
for instance, a man has a weak stomach, the 
nerves around the stomach being irritated, makes 



l8 THE SUFFERER'S MANUAL. 

the brain so, and the brain again affects the 
other bodily functions, and eventually they are 
all weakened by this imperfect digestion and 
excited nervous action. The sexual organs affect 
the brain in the same way. 

When several vessels are unequally filled with 
water and then connected by pipes at the bot- 
tom, the fluid will seek a common level, so every 
weak function brings all the other functions 
down to its own level. Should a person have 
strong lungs, but weak sexual organs, the lungs 
will, in time, become weakened, hence in cur- 
ing any weak organ, it is necessary to not only 
help that particular organ all one possibly can, 
but to keep all the healthy organs in good con- 
dition, and in the prevention of their becoming 
weak, the weakened one itself will rapidly be 
restored. 

In cases of sexual impairments and loss of 
nervous power, the mind is very apt to become 
affected, for it has long been known as a general 
truth that the connection between the nervous 
and sexual systems is so intimate, that the com- 
position and mode of production of the nervous 
substance and the re-productive fluid is almost 
identicallv the same, and it has been discovered 
that in all cases of severe nervous and mental 
derangement, the actual substance of the brain 
and nerves wastes away, and the same is true in 



THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 19 

cases of excessive loss of the vital fluid, this is 
proved by the fact that one-third of the insane 
have been subjects of masturbation or excessive 
sexual indulgence, showing that severe loss of 
the reproductive fluid causes a corresponding 
loss of nerve power and weakening of the brain. 
Everyone will readily see the necessity of good, 
healthy brain and nervous action to maintain 
and perfect bodily health, and especially young 
men wishing to recover from the effects of youth- 
ful indiscretion, should maintain a quiet, gentle 
and serene temperament, allowing nothing to 
cloud or disturb the mind; this, together with 
being patient, pleasant, cheerful and happy r 
avoiding severe mental action, rectifying the 
mind and toning up the system by exercise, is 
the grand cure for nervous troubles, for the brain 
being thus strengthened, will tone up the dis- 
ordered nerves, they, the vital organs, weakened 
by excess, and, in the course of time, you will 
have regained all your former health and vigor 
by simply following Nature's laws and not 
taking a drop of the poisonous medicines or 
wearing the injurious " belts " of the quacks. 
You will see from the foregoing that upon the 
proper action of the brain and mentality depend 
the successful treatment of nervous and sexual 
disorders, this will be more fully shown here- 
after. 



SEMINAL EMISSIONS NOT A 
DISEASE. 



Let us now consider the nature and substance 
of the seminal liquid, that peculiar, vivifying, 
and life-giving fluid, the proficiency of which 
give life and health, while its wasteful extrav- 
agance occasions an untold amount of misery. 

We will take, for an example, a good, strong, 
healthy, rosy-cheeked boy about eleven years 
old, he is at this time approaching one of the 
critical periods of his existence; he is full of life, 
buoyancy and vigor ; his muscles heretofore soft 
are now becoming firm and hard ; his bones pre- 
viously composed principally of cartilage, now 
become true bone; all of his vital organs, lungs, 
stomach, kidneys, etc., are attaining their full 
size and development ; the sexual organs before 
small and flabby, now begin to enlarge; the tes- 
tes and seminal vessels begin to secrete from 
the blood that peculiar substance termed seminal 
fluid, a drop of which, when examined under a 
microscope, reveals the existence of myriads of 
minute things — called spermatozoa — which dart 

20 






SEMINAL EMISSIONS NOT A DISEASE. 21 

in all directions, possessing wonderful life and 
vigor. There is, in short, a complete revolu- 
tion in the youth's system, he is no longer a boy, 
but is now entering manhood. 

The secretion of this seminal fluid by the sem- 
inal vessels jDroduces a delightful and indescrib- 
able feeling of pleasure throughout the whole 
body, and particularly about the organs of gen- 
eration. It is this feeling that is a frequent cause 
of the commencement of self-abuse. We will 
suppose, however, that this boy's parents have 
fully warned him of the terrible consequences, 
should he practice that awful vice, and he is 
saved from physical ruin. The seminal vessels 
will continue the secretion of this fluid from the 
blood, and in time they will be completely full, 
together with the reservoirs surrounding the or- 
gans whose duty it is to stow away this secretion, 
like the bladder does urine, and when the sem- 
inal vessels and reservoirs are full, they must be 
evacuated, the same as the bladder needs evac- 
uating, though not exactly like it, or in the same 
manner; and in order to discharge this repletion 
of the seminal vessels, nature, during the night, 
sends dreams, which produce a discharge, or 
night loss. In other words, night losses are not 
necessarily the consequence of self-abuse, but 
are a provision of nature to throw off from the 
system its surplus accumulations, something 



22 THE SUFFERERS MANUAL. 

common to every healthy young man, whether 
he has practiced that vice or not. 

The representations of the miserable quacks 
that they are the ruinous effects of masturbation, 
rendering those addicted to them utterly disqual- 
ified for marriage, is thus shown to be a false- 
hood of the blackest kind. 

Let me repeat: the seminal fluid is all the time 
in process of formation, and it is just as necessary 
for the seminal vessels and reservoirs to be evac- 
uated, as it is for the bladder, of course not ex- 
actly, but practically so. The natural method 
for this outlet is in the consummation of honor- 
able marriage, and in the absence of this, and if 
the young men do not have promiscuous inter- 
course, nature will find an outlet, for out it must 
come, and she does this by sending lascivious 
dreams during the early morning sleep. The 
fluid accumulating during the night, the vessels 
are extended, blood is attracted to the parts in 
an excessive quantity, dreams are excited, and 
emissions take place. 

All of this is upon the supposition that the 
individual has never practiced self- abuse, but is 
a pure and noble young man, having a healthy 
evacuation once or twice a month. 

Now we will take the case of a young man 
who has practiced this debasing vice. He is in 
a truly pitiable condition, both physically and 



SEMINAL EMISSIONS NOT A DISEASE. 2$ 

mentally; weakened vital organs; nervous sys- 
tem prostrated, and if the vice has been carried 
to an extraordinary degree, he is a complete 
wreck in body and mind. Not one in a thou- 
sand carry the pleasure to such an excess as this, 
but we take an extreme case for an example. 
The emissions are of alarming frequency, in- 
stead of the natural number, one or two a month, 
he has them, perhaps, nightly. During the time 
he was indulging in the sinful pleasure, the 
emissions were of rare occurrence, from the fact 
that the organs were constantly depleted, and 
were not given time to accumulate enough to 
evacuate of their own accord. He has ascer- 
tained by some means the awful consequences 
of his folly, resolves to stop it, and does so, only 
to find that the precious fluid escapes at night, 
through dreams, and the drain upon the system 
is nearly as great as before. 

This is not a conflicting view of the case to 
my former statements, viz : that night losses are 
not necessarily the result of self-abuse, for they 
are not, that is the natural number is not, but 
when they are as frequent as four or more a 
month, to say nothing of being every night, the 
number is unnatural, and something is disor- 
dered about the nervous and sexual systems. 

" What causes these frequent losses and what 
will diminish their number to the natural num- 



24 THE SUFFERER'S MANUAL. 

ber demanded by nature ?" is the question every 
sufferer now propounds. 

The long continued indiscretion has so in- 
flamed and enfeebled these parts, and this con- 
stant feverish and excited condition, together 
with the severe labor imposed upon them while 
they were in an undeveloped state, has so re- 
duced and weakened them, that they have not 
the strength and tone to secrete and stow away 
seminal fluid in a natural manner, but discharges 
it as fast as it forms. The constant exercise of 
the penis has greatly enlarged that organ, dis- 
tending the blood vessels in it and the surround- 
ing parts, so that an immense supply of blood 
is directed to them, causing great irritation. The 
nervous system also being wrecked, the brain is 
consequently weakened as well as all the vital or- 
gans of the body. The constant dwelling of the 
mind upon lewd subjects has completely para- 
lyzed its action for proper mental labor; and this 
wrong mental action, together with his weak- 
ened constitution, has turned the whole vitality 
of the body from its proper channels, to the di- 
rection of the sexual organs, and they, not hav- 
ing the power and energy sufficient to control 
this current of vitality, it either passes directly 
through and out of them, or remains in the sem- 
inal reservoirs, and is consumed by fever. 

This is, in a few words, the facts of the whole 



THE MIND CURE. 25 

matter, now we will see what is the best method 
of changing this tide of vitality that is flowing 
from all parts of the body to the sexual organs, 
and in this successful turning of th^ stream's 
course we find the sure and safe cure. 

THE MIND CURE.— In order to cure 
these disorders, the person afflicted must under- 
go a complete revolution in his habits, diet, and 
daily life. A complete change must be made 
in his mind, his thoughts, his ideas, his aspira- 
tions, his hopes, in short, a grand, sweeping re- 
form of both body and mind is the principal 
thing that need be done to reduce the emissions 
down to a proper, healthful average, and effect 
a sure cure. 

The first and most important thing to do is, 
to revolutionize the mind, through the will. 
This comprises nearly the entire principle of the 
cure. Your disease, as before stated, is a far 
more mental than a physical one. You imag- 
ined asexual partner in all these pleasures, if the 
organs had simply been handled without the im- 
aginations of the mind, and no amatory feelings, 
there would have been no erections and no loss 
of vitality. It was this niental labor, this im- 
agination which first led to the commitment of 
these acts, and which caused all the damage. 
This amatory or sensual faculty of the mind 



26 THE SUFFERER'S MANUAL. 

was given to man for a wise and holy purpose. 
Its close connection with the sexual organs, has 
been explained; its inflamation means their in- 
flammation, its excited action causes the sexual 
organs to increase the secretion of the semen, 
hence, its proper healthful condition is of abso- 
lute importance in the successful treatment of 
these disorders; the mind, therefore, must be 
righted, entirely corrected before a cure is pos- 
sible. Its intimate relation with every part of 
the body, influences the whole body for good or 
for evil, as it is influenced. 

In order to change and rectify the mind, and 
through it the body, first: get the right idea of 
your trouble, do not give up to dispair, you are 
not nearly as bad off as you imagine yourself to 
be, and which the impostors would have you 
believe you are. Consider the losses as natural 
things, something that cannot be stopped alto- 
gether, but only need to be controlled. You are 
perhaps literally dying with despair over your 
condition, if so, you must banish those feelings 
at once; never give up to melancholy thoughts; 
calmly reflect over your disorder, taking things 
philosophically, relying upon nature (and "The 
Sufferer's Manual,") for a cure. Throw 
aw r ay quack literature, don't believe one word 
they say. 

The intellect requires strengthening. It has 



PURIFY THE MIND. 27 

been weakened by this constant feverish excite- 
ment, the same as the organs themselves, as the 
imagination of lewd and sensual subjects caused 
the seminal ducts to secrete in excessive quanti- 
ties, vice, originating in the mind and having its 
outlet at the sexual parts ; so this secretion and 
discharge of the vital fluid, reacted with double 
force upon the mind itself, causing it to think 
all the more upon such subjects, and this recip- 
rocal action of these two powerful physical 
forces, the corruption in the mind producing the 
discharge, and the discharges increasing the 
lewd action of the mind, until the body, bv this 
combined action, weakens and wilts away under 
the malign influence; hence, 

PUKIFY THE MIND.— Compel the 
thoughts to subjects of an elevating and ennobl- 
ing character, take a firm stand on a high, manly, 
moral ground, which looks with angry impa- 
tience and contempt at everything that is low, 
vicious or corrupting. This may at first be 
somewhat difficult to do, as the continual exer- 
cise of the brain in the opposite direction has 
strengthened its power of thinking upon evil 
subjects, like the exercise of the muscles pro- 
duces strength, but it must be done ; cast aside 
the poisonous cup of passion; divert the mind 
by the force of will; an iron determination to 



28 

force it to objects of sufficient interest as to di- 
rect the flow of the nervous energies from the 
sexual organs to their legitimate channels in the 
other parts of the body, by engaging in light, 
active out-door employments where the mind, 
as well as the body, is employed. That the 
mind be fully occupied, is all important. The 
persons who suffer most are those whose occu- 
pations permit considerable leisure time, and 
who allow their minds to run riot, and thus 
cause the nervous influences to be directed to- 
wards the private organs. Beside a pleasant 
occupation, the cultivation of a pure, holy, de- 
votional spirit is very efficacious in changing the 
mind ; and especially put the love of the other 
sex upon a quiet, elevated plane, for this fitful, 
fiery state will soon use you up. Consider wo- 
man a pure, elevated being, worthy of the high- 
est love and adoration. 

The mind is undoubtedly the most wonder- 
ful part of the human organism, as it controls 
every bodily function. Its corruption will cor- 
rupt every part of the body, while its pure and 
proper action will eventually restore all weak- 
ened organs, and produce health and happiness. 

Dean Stanley says : " Thou hast a double 
nature, choose between the worse and the better 
that is within thee. Thou hast it in thy power 
to become the slave of passion, the slave of lux- 



PURIFY THE MIND. 2') 

ury, the slave of sensual power, the slave of 
corruption ; thou hast it in thy power to become 
the free master of thyself, to become the ever- 
lasting benefactor of thy country and the un- 
failing champion of thy God." 

Throw off the devils yoke; assert your inde- 
pendence of mind over passion; allow no im- 
pure thought to enter that holy mental sanctu- 
ary ; destroy all impure literature you may have, 
every quack's circular or rjamphlet, and partic- 
ularly all obscene books, destroy them as you 
would a snake; they have been the curse of 
thousands, causing an untold amount of harm. 
Anthony Comstock is doing a noble work in 
suppressing them. 

Cultivate a love of the beautiful, the good and 
useful. In short, keep the mind so employed 
with high and noble motives, that it will not 
find time to dwell upon debasing subjects. Also, 
do not be constantly thinking of your condition, 
as it only makes matters worse. 

The constant dwelling of the thoughts upon 
the troubles increases the manufacture of the 
semen, and consequently produces more losses, 
besides, you are not in anything like the horrible 
condition you think you are, and giving up to 
discouragement and gloomy thoughts greatly 
impede your cure. Remember, this " mind har- 
rowing disease," as the quacks term it, is not 



30 THE SUFFERER'S MANUAL. 

such an awfully serious thing after all, when 
looked at in the proper light. Don't let the 
emissions trouble you one bit, for mental distress 
only makes them worse. Few cases are des- 
perate, and nearly every one can be nearly, if 
not entirely cured, and the unnatural number of 
the emissions stopped. 




SLEEP. 

This is a subject of great importance in the 
consideration of these disorders. Sleep is na- 
ture's great panacea. By its means she recuper- 
ates the lost powers; restores the wasted ener- 
gies; rebuilds the entire system, and repairs and 
re-supplies all the functions of the body. Sleep is 
an absolute necessity, and especially so to per- 
sons recovering their exhausted powers. They 
should sleep all they can, regulating it, however 
so as to avoid the debilitations. How this may 
be accomplished, forms the mission of this little 
book. Presuming you have taken enough gen- 
tle, continuous exercise during the day, to ex- 
pend the super-abundant vitality, and becoming 
slightly fatigued in body, about nine o'clock 
prepare to retire. Lower the window of your 
room, slightly, from the top, covering the open- 
ing with a curtain, that no draughts of air will 
give you a cold; now fully evacuate the bladder, 
and then immerse the parts in a vessel of cold 
water, and continue it for a few minutes, be sure 
to first discharge the urine, as its retention is apt 
to induce inflammation. This bathing of the 



32 THE SUFFERER S MANUAL. 

organs in cold water takes out all the excitement 
and inflammation; contracts the enlarged and 
distended ducts and blood-vessels, and tones up 
and irwigorates all these organs. 

After thus bathing the parts, take a good 
sized piece of cloth — a soft towel or anything — 
soak it in cold water, wring it out and retire for 
the night. After remaining quiet long enough 
„to allow the whole body and the organs to be- 
.corne thoroughly warm, gently rub the damp 
^cloth up and down the abdomen, the chest and 
the back, just enough to moisten the body with- 
out chilling it, and then envelope the organs 
with the cloth, passing it back between the 
thighs. Along near morning the heat of the 
parts which caused the emissions, will, in its 
contact with the damp cloth, change into steam, 
and pass off, leaving the organs constantly moist 
and cool, making the emissions impossible. This 
is called the wet compress cure, and is by far 
the simplest, safest and best mode of stopping 
the discharges. I have received many letters 
from sufferers, who have spent hundreds of dol- 
lars for useless drugs, speaking of this cure in 
the most glowing terms. 

The action of the compress upon the body 
and the sexual organs is as follows : The body, 
and particularly these organs, is in a state of 
raging fever, false excitement, high inflamma- 



THE BED. 33 

tion and exhausted vital force. The gentle rub- 
bing of the cold damp cloth over the warm 
body, cooling it for a few minutes, and in its 
re-action brings all this internal fever and violent 
heat to the surface, and throws it off in the form 
of steam. The same is true when the cloth is 
enveloping the organs, only recollect one point, 
before enveloping them, wait long enough to 
allow them to become thoroughly warm and 
capable of reacting, otherwise, if they should 
remain cold and lifeless, the inflammation will 
be driven in, instead of brought to the surface, 
and matters would be worse; but when placed 
on the warm organs, all of the burning heat 
and fever will, as I have said before, be brought 
to the surface, and passed off in gentle steaming 
vapor; and this process, repeated night after 
night for several weeks, will finally take out all 
that false excitement, that was the great cause 
of the emissions, and cure you. 

THE BED. — Always sleep so as not to 
unduly heat the body and these parts. A hard 
bed is preferable to a soft one for this ; a mattress 
is the best; corn husk or straw ticks the next. 
Under no consideration ever sleep on feathers. 
Sleeping on the back increases the trouble; the 
right side is the best, as it favors the passage of 
the food from the stomach. Towards morninor 



34 the sufferer's manual. 

the bladder becomes full again, which causes 
more heat around the organs, and you should 
arise at once and urinate. For this purpose con- 
trive to awake about four o'clock. This may 
require some little effort to do, at first, but a few 
trials will accustom the system to it, and after a 
few mornings, you will awake at the exact mo- 
ment desired, clearly showing that nature is a 
faultless time-keeper, and we have simply to 
conform to her imperial rules, and she will bring 
her wandering children back to health. 

In the course of a few months, when the 
habit has become firmly fixed, and the emissions 
have been nearly controlled, the damp cloth may 
be placed under the pillow, after the body has 
been moistened with it; remaining there during 
the first portion of the night, and after retiring 
from the early morning urination, then envelope 
the organs with it, they being now warm and 
full of blood. The moistening of the body may 
also be gradually dispensed with after two or 
three months, bathing the whole body once or 
twice a week, however, taking a regular bath. 
This discontinuance of thus moistening the body 
should not be done, however, only by those who 
have brought their bodies under the full control 
of the will, the mind properly rectified, and 
whose emissions only occur during the early 
morning sleep. At first, the safer way is to 



RINGS, ETC. 35 

wrap the cloth around the parts upon retiring,, 
as before stated, and upon arising to urinate, re- 
dampen the cloth, and again envelope the organs- 

RINGS, ETC.— There have been various 
mechanical devices invented to awaken the in- 
dividual before much excitement and distention 
can take place. Some consist of bands with 
spikes in them which press against the organ as 
soon as it enlarges; others of two blocks of 
wood grooved in the center, one placed be- 
neath and the other above the organ, and then 
tightly fastened together, preventing it from 
distending. All of these devices are dangerous,, 
and liable to produce worse disorders than the 
trouble sought to be cured, and therefore they 
should never be used. For instance: in the case 
of the spiked band, it may answer its purpose 
for a short time, but gradually the parts become 
accustomed to its use, indifferent and callous to 
the pain it inflicted, and the person will not be 
awakened, and hence it is utterly useless. Be- 
sides, these rings and blocks of wood obstruct 
the circulation, and important blood vessels 
might be ruptured. Their employment has also 
generated a habit of increased flow of blood to 
the parts, of itself a powerful excitant, and being 
stopped by the ring, this excitement and inflam- 
mation is prolonged, aggravated, and the emis- 



^6 THE SUFFERER'S MANUAL. 



sions are in the end more frequent, and tlie very 
trouble striven against is increased by their use. 
There are many other kinds of instruments, 
for different purposes, all of which should be 
avoided, as they are more or less injurious. The 
"glass air exhauster," for enlarging the organs, 
and the much advertised " Electric Belts," for 
stimulating them, merely help for a short time; 
they invariably making the person using them 
worse in the end. 

DREAMING.— And now I am going to 
give you some more joyful information, which 
is, that dreams can be controlled / the fires of 
sensuality in the mind during the night, and 
which were the immediate cause of the debilita- 
tions, can be governed and suppressed, although 
not extinguished, for they were given to man by 
nature for a high and holy purpose. They form 
the most predominate and powerful faculties of 
our nature, and are intended to fulfill a very im- 
portant mission. In fact the sexual instinct, 
when not perverted, is one of the most sacred 
passions of the human heart, exalting and dig- 
nifying the character, stimulating ambition, at- 
tracts the sexes mysteriously together. It lies 
at the foundation of marriage, and enters into 
the very fabric of society and government. This 
precious gift, if preserved in its natural purity 



DREAMING. 37 

arid power, and controlled by the higher facul- 
ties, is man's most dutiful servant, and great 
promoter of his physical, mental and moral 
health; but should this naturally obedient ser- 
vant and promoter of man's happiness be al- 
lowed to become the master, it turns to a most 
bitter, revengeful and destroying tyrant, makings 
honor, friends, home and everything else sub- 
servient to its imperial sway. 

It is man's base perversion of this ennobling 
emotion, misguided by sensuality, that has caused 
the wide-spread misery, disease and death. And 
the first great duty of sufferers from sexual disor- 
ders is to restore the calm equilibrium of mind 
and the senses; put down the terrible mastery of 
passion; reduce the excited state of the sexual 
faculty over the other faculties; throw off the 
bondage of lust; break the iron chains which 
have bound you so long, and declare your man- 
hood and self-respect. The way this influences 
dreams is this: our dreams depend in a great 
measure upon our waking thoughts, upon the 
subjects that have occupied the mind during the 
day ; if the day thoughts are pure, the dreams at 
night will also be pure; hence, to govern the 
dreams, govern the mind during the day. You 
will perceive that I have endeavored to impress 
upon every reader the absolute necessity of com- 
pletely changing the thoughts and rectifying the 



38 THE SUFFERER'S MANUAL. 

mind, and by thus subjecting the passions to the 
will, dreamless sleep will be secured. The neces- 
sity for this purity of mind is manifold. This 
wild, vivid sexual imagination is the principal 
creator of the semen ; these unchaste thoughts 
stimulate the activity of the testes, thus increas- 
ing the overloading of the seminal vesicles, 
which must be evacuated, and if not evacuated, 
it will be bui'nt uj) by fever , for nature must get 
rid of it somehow. How this wonderful process 
is accomplished, is very interesting, although not 
here in place. 

But, this rectifying the mind, and thus pre- 
venting the manufacture of the semen is the 
great point. To accomplish this, as I have said 
before, make the will master of the passions; 
cultivate a desire to live and be happy; always 
have a good, cheerful, lively disposition, never 
allowing shame or self-condemning feelings to 
enter the mind; banish them as well as despond- 
ency and all impure thoughts, for lascivious 
thoughts during wakefulness are the chief cause 
of lascivious dreams. Go out into society ; attend 
church, sociables, gatherings, where you will 
come in contact with pure, virtuous young ladies, 
whose conversation and society have a wonder- 
fully calming, elevating, and ennobling influence 
upon the mind and body. I have not the space 
to dwell much upon this subject, and -will have 






DREAMING. 39 

to reserve for another volume the thoughts of 
how pure female society, and eventually a love 
marriage ennobles the man; and is after all the 
true, great restorer of his sexual disorders. 

Coming back to the subject of dreams — which 
are the workings of the brain during sleep, with- 
out being controlled by the will — they depend 
upon various physical conditions, as well as the 
mental, already spoken of. The brain is exerted 
to action by the blood in the head. All mental 
labor, whether in waking thoughts or in dreams, 
depend upon the blood in the brain, and every- 
thing that has a tendency to send blood to the 
head, near the time for retiring, should be avoid- 
ed ; for instance, cold feet, late suppers, severe 
mental labor, etc., are causes of the imagination 
making those wonderful flights from scene to 
scene, revelling in every conceivable form, un- 
governed by judgment, intelligence, or reason. 
When the bladder becomes full and the sexual 
organs become heated and inflamed, blood is at- 
tacted to them, and they, through the nervous 
system, arouse the passions of the mind and 
body, producing lascivious dreams, pleasurable 
erections, sensations and emissions take place. 
I have in these remarks shown two things — first : 
that all dreams, both good and bad, are caused 
by certain physical or mental conditions — cold 
feet, full stomach, severe mental work, or ner- 



40 THE SUFFERER'S MANUAL. 

vous disorders like headache, etc. Second : the 
mental condition determines more than anything 
else the character of the dreams. A lustful men- 
tal condition will produce lustful dreams; all of 
these causes can be remedied, and pure dream- 
less sleep produced. Of the mental causes I have 
already spoken to considerable length; of the 
physical, avoid them thus: After an early sup- 
per, (about six o'clock) engage in a pleasing con- 
versation, or read a non-exciting book or paper 
— a good religious paper is advisable — spending 
the evening in a manner calculated to tone down 
the nerves from the day's labor; be in a quiet, 
easy, thankful, state of mind, allowing nothing 
to disturb your tranquility, avoiding all severe 
mental work, and everything else that will send 
too much blood to the head, as drinking liquors, 
exciting sports, running, wrestling, etc., and 
about nine o'clock, after warming the feet, re- 
tire, arranging the wet compress as before de- 
scribed. 

In conclusion of the subject of sleep, let every 
sufferer remember that it is of great importance, 
as sexual ailments are mainly mental instead of 
physical. These patients have generally a wild, 
sleepy or haggard look, because these troubles 
affect the mind, causing great nervousness, which 
produces the wakefulness common in these com- 
plaints. Retire regularly, sleep abundantly un- 



DREAMING. 41 

der as few clothes as you can with comfort, but 
do not take cold. The restoration of impaired 
constitutions which nature effects through re- 
freshing sleep is a continual marvel, re-supply- 
ing the system with vitality and nervous force. 
If you cannot get all the sleep required, at night, 
lie down during the day, but get your fill. Al- 
ways sleep on the side, and have the head ele- 
vated by a fair sized hard pillow. Many patients 
complain of their inability to remain upon the 
side, but unconsciously turn over upon the back 
during sleep. With me, personally, this is nev- 
er the case. I always remain upon the side I 
go to sleep on, but of course in this people differ, 
and to those unable to "lay still," resorting to the 
expedient of tying a towel around the stomach, 
having the knot in the back, will aid materially. 
Sleep a little longer upon those mornings when 
loss has occurred, to overcome it. Upon arising, 
always throw open the window, and allow the 
room and bed to thoroughly ventilate. Let it 
remain open a trifle all day, and a very little 
during the night. Religious contemplation and 
devotional exercises diffuse over the soul a de- 
lightful tranquility, inviting to sleep. Taking 
these various precautions suggested, putting the 
mind into an und?'eamable state before retiring, 
will do much in preventing these impure dreams 
which are the evil genius of sufferers. 




EXERCISE. 

The nervous force, being constantly manufac- 
tured, must find vent somewhere, or destruction 
will be inevitable; and the process of cure for 
all these disorders, which arise from overuse and 
exertion of the organs, is first, a stoppage of 
their use, and then an employment of the ner- 
vous power, which is all the time being gener- 
ated in the system, in a different direction — 
through other channels — and thus give those 
which have been overworked, rest, and time to 
recuperate; without this employment the organs 
can have no rest, and consequently can not be 
restored — for, from the force of habit, these in- 
fluences have so long been directed toward the 
sexual organs, that, unless it finds a new outlet, 
it will continue in this direction until eventuallv 
these organs, and the whole system, will be 
completely broken down by the excessive drain. 
As we cannot stop the current of a river by 
damming it up, but must provide a new outlet 
for it: so of the current of vitality in our 
bodies — we must change its channel, send it 

42 



EXERCISE. 43 

through the muscles and out of the body by 
Exercise. 

Moderate out-door activities are of immense 
importance in these complaints, drawing the 
vital forces away from the sexual organs to the 
muscles, by increasing the circulation, promoting 
vigor, strength, vivacity and sleep; and is the 
great means of purifying the blood and toning 
up the nervous system. 

Arise early in the morning, immediately after 
awakening from the morning sleep; clothe ap- 
propriately, as the weather demands, and take an 
easy, moderate walk, luxuriating in the glorious 
sunshine, drawing in its magnetical influence, en- 
joying the fleecy clouds, the trees, the birds, the 
flowers, breathing in deep draughts of the pure 
fresh air, and revelling with the glad thoughts of 
living a new life. This morning walk sharpens 
the appetite and gives a keen relish for the 
breakfast. During the day, the more out-door 
exercise taken, the better it is ; be careful not to 
over-exert or become excessively fatigued. 

Exercising the brain is also very useful; read 
pure, elevating literature only. Especially after 
a severe days labor, let the body rest, and en- 
gage the thoughts by pleasant reading or con- 
versation. It is not best to exercise too much 
right before eating, when the stomach is com- 
pletely empty, nor directly after eating; and 



44 THE sufferer's manual. 

never work when tired ; just as soon as you be- 
come fatigued by labor, stop working and rest. 
The kind of exercise to be taken is not ma- 
terial; walking, riding or working. Everyone 
must of course rely upon his own judgment as to 
the proper amount of exercise necessary. In 
case you should become very tired, sleep a little 
longer, to fully recover the vitality, that you 
may arise refreshened; to over-exert, however, 
is liable to produce a relapse, as well as not 
enough exercise. To become comfortably tired 
every day, enough to take out all the superfluous 
vitality of the body, is the only safe amount to 
take. When the emissions have become reduced 
to one or so a month, and the strength begins to 
increase, the exercise may be a little severer; 
ball-playing, running, long walks and rides, 
interesting out-door sports, etc., would now 
prove beneficial. It is not best, however, to 
crowd things too rapidly; increase the strength 
gradually and it will then be permanent. 







BATHING 

Is of great importance, both for cleanliness and 
for toning the nerves. 

As the nerves terminate in such countless 
numbers in the skin, the application of cold 
water to the body stimulates the action of the 
capillaries, and they stimulate the nervous cen- 
ters through the body. Water is indeed one of 
nature's principal remedial agents, and next to 
sleep, is the great cure of nervous disorders, 
Wakefulness, nervousness, headache, etc., are 
allayed by the application of cold water to the 
skin, with brisk rubbing afterward. Do not have 
the water too cold — about medium; bathe at 
least twice a week thoroughly, only staying in 
the water a few moments, not long enough to 
become chilled. After washing the body, rub 
it briskly with a towel, and afterward with the 
hands, until it is aglow with warmth; always 
secure this reaction of the skin, and should it 
prove a difficult matter to do, on account of the 
vitality being unusually low, then dispense with 
one of the baths per week, taking onlv one, and 
that just before retiring. The moistening the 

45 - 



46 THE SUFFERER'S MANUAL. 

body with a damp cloth may be dispensed with 
upon the nights that the body is bathed. Of all 
the baths, the ordinary hand bath is preferable, 
because it is more easily applied, and requires 
much bodily exertion, which facilitates the re- 
quired re-action. It should be discontinued im- 
mediately, should a chilly sensation begin to be 
felt. 

Bathing is also a great preventive of colds by 
keeping the skin in a healthy condition, and if 
you should take a cold, drink enough of warm 
water or tea to secure a copious perspiration, 
and then either take a hot bath or soak the feet 
in hot water, toasting them afterward, will prove 
effectual in breaking it up. Be careful, how- 
ever, to cover up well, on retiring, to avoid con- 
tracting a new cold — the principal evil attendant 
upon this simple cure. 




DIET VS. MEDICINE. 



In all of these cases there is a lack of good, 
vigorous, general health, and one of the first 
things to do in conjunction with the endeavors 
to decrease the frequency of the emissions, is to 
increase the health, tone up the system, and 
strengthen the constitution, for debility and lack 
of general health are large causes of the ail- 
ment, which general debility the emissions in- 
crease; and thus they go on, the debility increas- 
ing and the emissions becoming more frequent, 
feeding upon each other, while the body under 
this combined depressing influence, grows 
weaker and weaker. As has been stated, and 
we cannot repeat it too often, nature is the only 
safe and reliable cure; in the observance of her 
laws of exercise, diet, cleanliness, pure air, etc., 
the cure of weakened bodily functions and lost 
energies is sure and certain ; also, as the overuse 
of the muscles will weaken them, so the private 
organs have been weakened by constant exer- 
cise; hence, rest to the overtaxed organs, com- 
bined with nature, is necessary, to insure the 
regaining of perfect bodily health. 

47 



^8 THE SUFFERER'S MANUAL. 

It is a lamentable fact that the impression is 
wide spread, that a cure must come through the 
medium of medicines. People rely implicitly on 
some advertised nostrum to restore their ex- 
hausted powers, or upon some quack's statement 
that he will cure them in a marvelously short' 
time; they obtain some medicine which merely 
stimulates the internal organs, already overtaxed, 
to increased work, the immediate effect of which 
is an apparent improvement, but it is like whip- 
ping an exhausted horse to make him go faster, 
he puts forth temporary strength, but the re- 
action soon comes, leaving him far worse than 
before. 

That medicines do no good for these cases is 
the universal testimony of all honorable medical 
men, and the experience of thousands who have 
doctored in vain. Nothing in Materia Medica 
can cure involuntary emissions, and all who have 
continued the use of medicine for them throw 
money and constitution away together. Resto- 
ration can not come through their medium; the 
very best that they can do is to give temporary 
relief, and the universal testimony of all who 
have relied upon drugs, appliances, " invigora- 
tors " and " sure cures " of all kinds, is, that they 
" seem to do good for a while." Stoj:> taking 
them! Apply no electric belt, liniment, plas- 
ters, or anything else internally or externally. 



DIET VS. MEDICINE. 49 

There is no medicine known that will repress 
or "stop" them permanently, except such as 
endanger the powers of the system and life 
itself. Repressing them does not cure them; 
besides, if they occur once a month they are not 
unhealthful. In proportion as they are exceed- 
ed, there is debility, nervousness*, etc., as named 
in previous pages. 

Some of the medicines used by charlatans are 
of the most deadly poisons; a young man is led 
to take a course of medicines or buy a box of 
pills, on the quack's statement that they will 
speedily cure him ; after finishing the first course 
of medicine, or the box of pills, or whatever it 
is, he may think that he is a little improved : 
and when he is told that u difficult cases require 
a little longer treatment," he thinks that he is 
an unusual case, and so takes a second or even 
a third course of medicine, or buys box after box 
of pills, until convinced that he is deriving no 
benefit therefrom, he puts himself under the 
treatment of some other quack, or purchases 
another advertised medicine, hoping to obtain 
relief from it, until finally the constitution be- 
comes a complete wreck from constant drugging. 
These are no exaggerated statements, but facts 
which thousands can testify to. Every one of 
these remedies are accompanied by health rules, 
clearly showing that it, upon those that the 



5o 

charlatan relies to effect the cure, hut they are 
represented as minor considerations to the taking- 
of the medicine, and consequently not thought 
so much of by patients, besides the terrible men- 
tal anguish caused by other false statements 
they make to sell a little more of their medi- 
cines, makes the ailment worse. 

It is upon the food and drinks, and not upon 
medicines, that restores the bodily powers. 
Nature does not make flesh and blood from 
drugs. 

FOOD* — Eat good nourishing food; live 
well, yet plainly ; I do not believe in the bread 
and water diet in these cases. The abstaining 
from animal food may reduce the lusts of the 
imagination, yet it is at the expense of the gen- 
eral health. The will should control the im- 
agination, and a good generous diet be taken to 
build up the weakened constitution. 

Observe the following rules in the selection 
of food: 

First — To take such things as contain much 
nutriment, and are easily digested. 

Second — To avoid all stimulating or excitino* 
foods and drinks; irritating food will produce 
irritating blood, and this irritating, stimulating 
blood will irritate and stimulate the nervous 
system, and particularly the delicate nerves of 
the re-productive organs. 



DIET VS. MEDICINE. 51 

Only the most simple yet nourishing food 
should be taken. In short, eat good, plain, 
solid, substantial food, not richly spiced or highly 
seasoned, which renders it more stimulating and 
exciting. 

Of the meats that may be used, roast beef 
rare, wUh baked potatoes and butter, is the best 
and most nutritious. All of the roasts are good ; 
veal and mutton especially, use no condiments, 
sauces, or mustard with them; partake gener- 
ously of soft-boiled eggs, good bread and butter, 
and vegetables in their proper season. Consult 
the appetite, and think what would taste good ;; 
the appetite acts as a sort of guardian to the 
physical wants, and if the body is deficient in 
certain qualities, and requires certain kinds of 
food, to supply the deficiency the appetite will 
long for that food, and it should be supplied 1 . 
Of course the appetite may be perverted, like 
the drunkard's craving for liquor, but its natural 
longings should be satisfied by the things it de- 
sires. Fat meats, especially the fat of beef is ton- 
ing to the nervous system, and may be moderate- 
ly taken; ripe, rich fruits during the summer are 
very agreeable; avoid taking such things as 
sausages, hams, pork, rich gravies, spiced food, 
mince pies, pastry, etc. ; eat until hunger is sat- 
isfied, and no more; masticate the food well; 
conversation on some lively topic during meals 
.has a very beneficial effect on digestion. 



52 THE SUFFERER S MANUAL. 

DRINKS.— Milk is by far the best for these 
complaints, and for debilitated constitutions, 
soothing and nourishing; be sure to get the 
pure article. Tea and coffee are very stimu- 
lating to the nervous system, especially coffee, 
and they should be used with great moderation, 
not exceeding a half cup full each m r eal. Do 
not drink during meals, but a half cup full of 
warm drink at its close will aid enfeebled diges- 
tion; of course cold water is the standard, but 
it should not be taken during meals, or within 
an hour after meals, as it would retard instead 
of aiding the digestion. The great difficulty with 
persons suffering from these disorders, is their 
inordinate thirst; and, as the blood is already 
too thin, milk and water should be used simply 
to stop the thirst, and as moderately as possible ; 
under no circumstances ever touch a drop of 
spirituous liquors, they are the very bane of 
these complaints; all kinds of alcoholic and 
malt beverages, whisky, brandy, gin, wines, 
beer, ale, etc., increase and inflame this already 
raging internal- fever ; they have a special affin- 
ity for the brain and sexual organs, and no 
sufferer should drink one drop of any of them; 
they influence seminal losses in a startling man- 
ner, having a destructive effect upon the organs. 
Many persons commence their use under the 
impression that they aid digestion, which idea 



DIET VS- .MEDICINE. 53 

at first seems plausible, but their action is too 
violent, too transient, irritating the stomach 
more than they strengthen ; the weakness suc- 
ceeding their use is greater than before using 
them, and in the course of time give the delicate 
coat of the stomach a hardness which deprives- 
it of that sensitiveness requisite to give an appe- 
tite, and eventually destroys instead of builds 
up the digestive powers; and as their action on 
the digestive functions is finally depressing, so 
is their action on the genitals, hot, excitable and 
feverish, literally tearing out gender, and leaving 
their victims cold, lacking vitality, and lifeless 
So let every young man avoid the use of stim- 
ulants; do not entertain the idea that they will 
benefit you, for the small temporary benefit the 
other organs derive from being stimulated is 
more than counterbalanced by the increased 
number of losses caused by their use. The use 
of beer is not quite so bad as alcoholic drinks > 
yet it is best not to use it. Tobacco is a powerful 
sedative to the nerves, taking vitality out of the 
body, and I would not advise any sufferer to use 
it in any form ; if, however, the habit is already 
strongly formed, use it moderately; persons 
have told me that a single cigar at bed-time will 
produce an emission. 




THE EVACUATIONS. 

These must be attended to promptly and reg- 
ularly. Everything taken into the stomach is 
either absorbed and made into blood, or is passed 
off by the bowels, and the condition of the or- 
gans of excretion, determines the health very 
largely. They throw off from the system all 
waste matter, keeping the body and the blood 
cool and healthy, and should be closely looked 
after. 

The most importont evacuation of the body 
is that of the bowels; one good, free evacuation 
every day is of absolute importance in the main- 
tenance of perfect health, and as persons afflicted 
with the nocturnals are apt to be constipated, 
the refuse matter accumulating in the bowels 
adds heat and inflammation to the body, and 
causes piles and other diseases of the rectum. 
The bowels should be cleared at once. All of the 
outlets of the body must be kept open, and the 
clogged system relieved of its burden. To do 
this gently, knead, pound and roll the abdomen, 
moving the matter along and at a certain hour 
every day have an evacuation. Most people's 



THE EVACUATIONS. 55 

time is after breakfast in the morning, which 
proves it to be the best. So after breakfast go 
to the closet , and wait patiently for the discharge, 
reading a paper; a few mornings will establish 
the habit, and then nature will herself call you 
to perform it, which call always heed. Evacu- 
ate the urine as often as called to during the 
day, always upon retiring at night, and arise 
along towards morning to, as previously directed. 
Remember not to delay nature's promptings in 
anv of the evacuations. The skin should be 
kept clean by bathing, as it throws off large 
quantities of refuse matter. Breathing in deep- 
ly, long and full breaths, will regulate the heart's 
action, quicken the circulation, and throw off 
from the lungs the blood's impurities, purifying 
it, and renovating the whole system. Palpita- 
tion of the heart is a frequent trouble in all these 
cases ; the pulse beats quickly and irregularly , 
sometimes very fast, and other times slow. Tak- 
ing a good, full breath, everytime, and always 
preserving a serene mental state will soon reg- 
ulate its action. 




NOTES. 

> We have endeavored in this hook to show the 
wonderful restorative powers possessed by nat- 
ure, upon which every sufferer has only to rely 
to insure complete physical health. The incli- 
nation of nature is always towards health; if we 
cut ourselves, the cut will in a short time heal; 
if we take cold, we have merely to keep warm, 
keep the system open, and nature will soon 
break up the cold; even broken bones heal, and 
so with the disorders of the sexual system, giv- 
ing them rest and employing the " let alone " 
cure, and nature will bring you through all 
right. 

There are a good many points, little details, 
to be observed in the daily life of sufferers, du- 
ties, although small, yet have an important in- 
fluence, and are great aids in breaking up the 
evil. I have grouped a few of them together 
here. 



Do not be in a hurry about regaining the 
strength, it may take months before a complete 

56 



NOTES. 57 

cure is effected, and a normal action of the body 
produced; and it should be borne in mind, that 
to a certain extent thes nocturnals are necessary 
and it is not desirable to suppress them alto- 
gether, even if it could be done. Be entirely 
satisfied if you perceive a gradual gain in flesh 
and strength from month to month. 



Never be alone, the mind is sure to wander 
on forbidden ground if it is not kept fully and 
agreeably employed in conversation or reading. 
If alone, always be busy with something that 



will engross the attention. 



The sexual organs were designed by nature 
to stand a great amount of abuse, and the " hor- 
rible results" of early indiscretion, as the quacks 
harp upon, are not nearly as great as they make 
their readers .believe they are. 



Do not place any confidence in the quack 
medical books or advertisements, for they en- 
courage sufferers to form exaggerated notions of 
their diseases, or the nature and character of their 
symptoms, and thus literally frightening them 
into a disordered mental state, and then prey 
upon the fears they thus create. 



$8 THE SUFFERER'S MANUAL. 

The frauds perpetrated by quacks are simply 
outrageous, giving some slight remedy as a sure 
"cure," claiming it to be a rare and costly drug, 
and charging an exorbitant price therefor. 



There are so many frauds to be exposed, so 
much corruption and evil to combat, that I al- 
most despair of accomplishing any good in re- 
deeming my fellow sufferers, but with the aid of 
every true and noble young man, I hope to be 
able to send this book to thousands of young 
men throughout the land. Among the frauds 
to be avoided are the "Anatomical Museums," 
which every large city has. Do not have any- 
thing to do with things that are marked "before 
using," and "after using," that they are gross 
frauds is apparent to everyone who thinks a few 
minutes. 



Always keep comfortably warm, thus pro- 
moting healthy skin action. Should you sleep 
with a brother take him into your confidence, 
and together peruse these books. Question : 
How can a " Reverend " know anything about 
medicine ? Have nothing to do with these cler- 
ical humbugs, they are wolves in sheep's cloth- 
ing. There are also the "smart doctors" whose 
knowledge is so great that they can tell a dis- 



NOTES. 59 

ease by simply looking at a person and not ask- 
ing a question! There is also the "Indian doc- 
tor," captured by Indians when a boy, and who 
acquired a reputation as a " medicine man ;" this 
is an old dodge and has swindled thousands. I 
have not the space in this book to speak of more 
of these contemptible swindlers. 



Do not dally with the private organs, or handle 
them in any way except for bathing. Avoid 
everything that will unduly excite the passions 
and increase the lusts of the flesh. 



I must ask my reader's indulgence to the many 
repetitions in this volume, there are many grand 
truths that will bear repeating time and again, 
and also the seeming shortness of many of the 
subjects considered, which, although condensed, 
yet contain everything of real importance; and 
the book requires to be read and re-read several 
times to glean from it all the golden nuggets of 
truth it contains. 



Relapses may often occur at first, producing 
a greater number of emissions than are health- 
ful. The various causes of these relapses and 
how to avoid them, will be detailed very fully 



6o 

in volume II, and also the " day losses," or the 
substance which escapes after urinating, repre- 
sented by all quack literature as a most mo- 
mentous affair, will be fully considered and their 
true nature shown. 



Do not use any appliances pretending to in- 
crease the size of the organs, all of them are 
useless and dangerous. The only safe and per- 
manent way of enlarging the organs is by nat- 
ural means, which is fully explained in the next 
volume. 



If the emissions occur one or so a month, they 
are a healthful discharge, when this number is 
exceeded, there is prostration, weakness and de- 
bility. Some temperaments are such as to in- 
duce more naturally, than others, this is a vital 
point, and is considered very fully in volume II. 



And now, dear reader, as we draw near the 
close of our work, I candidly ask you if the 
information of this book will not prove an in- 
estimable boon to you in the re-building of the 
system weakened by over indulgence? 

Every young man ought to have this book, 
and I earnestly ask your aid and co-operation in 



NOTES. 



61 



placing this glorious little volume in their hands. 
In union there is strength, and let us unite in 
one grand army to accomplish two noble pur- 
poses : extermination to the despicable serpents, 
in human form, infesting, our fair land, sucking 
the life-blood out of thousands of young men; 
and salvation for this countless number of mis- 
guided, wronged and bled victims, making their 
future existence a happy and glorious pleasure. 




CONCLUDING REMARKS. 

I wish to suggest again to my readers the ad- 
vantages derived from consulting an honorable 
family physician, have no delicacy about the 
matter, but state candidly the trouble to him 
and he will invariably take an interest in your 
case, his calm reassuring words will greatly aid 
in correcting the misapprehensions that may be 
in your mind. 

Should you observe anything you do not un- 
derstand, inquire about it of him. One pecu- 
liarity about patients of this disorder, especially 
if they have been reading quack literature upon 
the subject, is, they are constantly looking out 
for symptoms; if they have a little pain any 
where, or if their food does not digest properly, 
they are sure that these are indications of some 
very serious trouble for which they must dose 
themselves with medicines to cure, Reading 
these books, and having a good, common-sense 
physician to advise you, are the best remedies 
you can possibly take. 

The principle of cure, as we have shown in 
this book, is very simple, lying entirely in the 

62 



CONCLUDING REMARKS. 63 

power of the patient himself, and does not re- 
quire " great skill," " age and experience all 
important," etc., as the charlatans advertise. 
Every family physician knows whatever is nec- 
essary to know about these cases, and you will 
save your health and money by applying to one 
of them. 

VOL. IT. 

We have issued another little book which 
will be the last, and it will therefore contain 
everything that is important in relation to this 
great subject, and which is not in the present 
book. Regular price of Vol. II. is $2; to phy- 
sicians or physicians' patients, when ordered by 
a physician, $1; liberal discount if ordered by 
the half-dozen. 

Circulars giving contents mailed free, sealed. 
Plainly address all communications to 

WALTER PRESTON, 

1S3 Washington St., 

CHICAGO, ILL. 




